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BMC Health Services Research

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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Improvement of the quality payment program by improving data reporting process: an action research

Authors: Shabnam Iezadi, Jafar Sadegh Tabrizi, Akbar Ghiasi, Mostafa Farahbakhsh, Kamal Gholipour

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Successful implementation of pay-for-quality (P4Q) programs mostly depends upon a valid, timely, and reliable data about quality measures generated by providers, and interpreted by payers. The aim of this study was to establish a data reporting method for P4Q program through an action research.

Methods

Qualitative method was used to align theory with action through a three-cycle action research. The study was conducted in September 15, 2015 to March 15, 2017, in East-Azerbaijan, Iran. The purposeful sampling was used to select participants. The participants included healthcare providers, staff in district health centers (DHC), experts, and managers in the provincial primary health center (PPHC). Data was collected by interviews, focus group discussions, and expert panels. Content analysis was used to synthesize the data. In each step, decisions about data reporting methods were made through a consensus of expert panel members.

Results

The most important dimensions of data reporting method were data entry and accuracy, data reporting, data analysis and interpretations, the flexibility of method, and training. By establishment of an online data reporting system for the P4Q program, a major improvement was observed in the documentation of performance data, the satisfaction of health care providers and staff (e.g. either in DHCs or PPHC), improvement of the P4Q program and acceptance of the P4Q program by providers. Following the present study, the online system was expanded in Iran’s public health system for data collection and estimating the amount of incentive payments in P4Q program. Moreover, more improvements were achieved by linking the system to EMRs and also, providing automated feedback to providers about their own performance.

Conclusions

A web-based computerized system with the capability of linking medical record and also its ability to provide feedback to healthcare providers was identified as an appropriate method of data reporting in the P4Q program from the viewpoints of participants in this study.

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Title: Improvement of the quality payment program by improving data reporting process: an action research
Authors: Shabnam Iezadi
Jafar Sadegh Tabrizi
Akbar Ghiasi
Mostafa Farahbakhsh
Kamal Gholipour
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3472-4

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Improvement of the quality payment program by improving data reporting process: an action research

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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